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derivative filename/jpeg
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363-01223 to 363-01267.pdf
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Digital Object Identifier
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363-01223 to 363-01267
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Title
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First Marine Aircraft Wing press packet
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Description
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Press packet that includes "First Marine Aircraft Wing," "The Force Logistic Command Story," a table of contents, biographies and portraits of Major General Norman J. Anderson and Brigadier General Robert P. Keller, "Brief History of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing," "The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Vietnam," "Significant Operations of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in the Republic of Vietnam," "1st Marine Aircraft Wing Support of Other Unit Operations," a map of I Corps, "Commanding Generals of the First Marine Aircraft Wing," and "The Mission--And How It Is Fulfilled." The packet also includes photos of First Marine Aircraft Wing planes, including a F8 Crusader, a TF9J Cougar, an EA-6A, a F4B Phantom, a CH-46 Sea Knight, a CH53A Sea Stallion, an UH1E Huey, an UH34D, an O1C, a KC-13OF Hercules, a C-117, an US-2B, a RF4B Phantom, an EF10B Skynight, an A4 Skyhawk, and an A6A Intruder.
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Date
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1967, July 31 and Oct.
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Subject
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975; United States. Marine Corps. Marine Aircraft Wing, 1st; Maps; Press releases; Aerial operations; Generals; Keller, Robert P.; Military aircraft; Anderson, Norman J.
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Location
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South Vietnam
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Coordinates
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10.8231; 106.6297
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Size
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21 x 27 cm
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Container
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B51, F12 and B144, F5-6
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Format
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press kits
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Collection Number
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MS 363
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Collection Title
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Beverly Deepe Keever, Journalism Papers
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Creator
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United States. Marine Corps. Marine Aircraft Wing, 1st
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Collector
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Keever, Beverly Deepe
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Copyright Information
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These images are for educational use only. To inquire about usage or publication, please contact Archives & Special Collections.
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Publisher
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Archives & Special Collections
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Language
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English
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extracted text
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31 July 1967
...
FIRST MARINE AIRCRAFT WING
The lat Marine Aircraft Wing flies missions in support of III MAF, 7th Air
Force, Task Force 77, and allied forces operating in the Republic of Vietnam.
Personnel strength of the Wing fluctuates around the 16,000 figure. The
aircraft inventory includes 16 different types of aircraft.
The Wing has two helicopter groups, three fi,xed lfing_ groupt}_, a. s~p:p,.o rt group
. and a head.quarters group. Wing headquarters, one fixe·d wing group and the
support group are: looated at Da Nang. Other installations include Chu Lai
(two fixed wing groups and one helicopter group); Marble Mountain (one
halic:opter group); Phu Bai (helicopter squadronsh Dong Ha and Khe Sanh
(helicop~er squadrons).
Wing aircraft log approximately 1600 sorties every day. Included in this
figure are some 240 figh~~r attack sorties and more than 1300 helo sorties.
In ad.di ti.on, Marine aircraft fly approximately 28 missions over North .
Vietnam (fighter/attack and electronic countermeasures) during an average
24 hour period in support of III M.&r, the Air Force and the Navy.
Among the fighter attack aircraft assigned are A-4E Skyhawks, A-6A Intruders ,
iP-4B Phantoms and F-8E Crusaders. For the support/recon role are TF-9J Couga.Tf: '.
BF-4,i Phantoms, EA-6A Intruder~, EF-lOB Skynights, and 0-lC observation
craft. Carrying the brunt of the transport load and doubling as flare ships
are the C-117 and the KC-130 which also is used for aeria l refueling. The
US-2B is used in a utility role.
With 'l he ad.di tL:>n of a squadron of CH-53A helicopters, the free world's
largest and fastest transport helo, 'lhe 1st Marine Aircraft Wing now has
four types of helicopters in Vietnam. The CH-46A Se·c....might and the UH-34D
Seahorse are used for transporting troops, re-supply, and medical evacuation missions. The UH-lE Iroquois also has a variety of missions including
armed support, medical evacuations, observation. The CH-53A Sea Stallions
transport troops and rupplies and a.re used extensively for retrieving downed
he lie opters.•
The commander of the 1st 1'1arine Aircraft Wing is Major General Norman J.
k.nderson who also serves as Deputy Commander, III Marine Amphibious Force
(Air).
-30-
''rHE FORCE LOGIS 'I1 IC COW'LA}TD STORY
Force Logistic Command is the 'bigge st supply and s,ipport
o,,tfi t in Marine Corps h i__ . tory.
Its job is logistic s 1'pport
for the 75,000' Marines f ightir.i.g in Vietnam I s I Corps.
The command was born March 15, 1966 when existing s,,pply
and s,,pp ort ,,nits, incl,,ding the 1st Force Service Regiment
were placed ''nder one command. Since· Oct. 1967, FL.C has been
commBnded by Brigadier General Harry C. Olson, a combat vete r an of World War II and Korea.
The com..mBnd, medc 11p of almost 10,000 M0rines ·, is h ea dq11 2rtered nt Cmnp Books, eight miles northw e st of Db Nang.
Thr oe of FLC's nine bottolions 0re e t Boa.ks , - Hendq,, a rters
and Service Bn., S"pp ly Bn. and 7th Motor TrE:msport Bil .
Other "nits Dre scattered thro 1'gho,,t I Corps, from Ch,, Lai
to the DMZ.
Loc a t e d west of the D8 N8 ng ~irfi e ld are Mc int e nrincc Bn.,
which r epo irs o nd mo int Dins comb 1J t eq"ipment for III MDrine
Amp hibio"s F o rc e M8rines, v nd th e 1st 1:1nd 3rd Hilit c ry Police
BBttclions.
The 1-'IP b n tt o li o ns p rovide scc,,ri ty f or c e s for
II I HAF, s e ntry end sco"t d og p lr to ons, s o c,,ri ty for the Dt t
Na n g D irfi c ld E: nd tho III r'Il.F br id;;rn e nd v ari o,,s other s o c"ri ty vnd policing missi o ns c s oss i g n o d.
-
-
Forc e Logj stic s,-, ppo rt Gro"p-Alph o c t Ph,, · Bni r:nd
Logi stic S"ppo rt Gr o,,p -Br a v o n t Dong H1:1 or e s"b ordinn t
"Di ts who s--pply 8nd s"ppbrt Horine "Di ts in north0rn
El eme nts of those "nits a r e c t Kho So n, Co l Co Isl on d
C" G Viet.
Force
e FLC
I Co rps.
o nd
S"pporting Rop"b lic o.f Ko r ea Marinos in · so 1,thern I Co rps
is G S"pp l y compDny f'rcim FLSG-B b ri s e d rt Ch•· Lo i.
Fifth Com~·niccti o n Bn., l o c a t e d in Ecst Do Nrng p r o vide s c omm··nic s ti o ns s"pport f o r Mr·rine c ombr: t O"tfits
thr o" gho"t I Corps 8s well o s gorrison "nits.
Mn int onc.nce Bt tt c li o n's five compimies, Ordn c nc co , El 0 ctr o nic, GCnorr l S"p o ly, En.r:; inoer r:. nd Mo t o r Tr 2 nsp o rt r opoi r
o ny Mnrine gea r thc t can bo fixed in Vietrn::m.
To r epc ir gecr tho t c onno t be br o"ght t o the sh ops, ooch
c omp c ny s e nds "c ,J nt c ct t onms" int o tho field t o m£'lrn o n-•thosp o t rep 8 irs.
Eq11ipment s orvicod c e n r Emgo fr om n 93,000
p o 1 •nd, 8-inch self-p r ope ll e d g"n t o o 2½ po"nd, 45 c n lib e r
p ist o l.
FLC Story 2-2-2-2-2
Bo th FLSG-A e nd F LS G-B h Dv o m£d nt ommc e c 0mp e ni e s d o ing
simil nr j obs in the nor th.
Th e III MAF Trcnsi e nt F rcility e nd its Re st Dnd Re l nxn tL:m c e nt e r nre op e r 2 t . . . ,. b y FLC. Besid e s h o11 sing me n h e n de d f or R&R, th e f c cility pr ovides t e rnp or r. ry h o,,sing f or
tr r. nsient pers onnel g o ing t o ond from th e U. S.
Whe n a '"nit is in n r emo te 8rec , is c"t- 0ff in c comb o t
opo r r, ti o n, or n ee ds o n-the- spo t q"ick delive ry, tho Air De live ry Pl Dt oo n g oo s int o octi o n, prrr' ch· ting s"ppli o s int o
the O" tf it.
No t 0 11 FI,C ,,nits o re c o nc e rne d with S''pp ly, mr, intcnimce
n nd service s"pp ort. The ticklish tnsk of dis 2rming d"<ls
or b oob y tr cps pl n ced by the ene my is the j ob of the Explo fiv e- Ordmmce Dispo s a l ter ms. The EOD men e re n ls o
cell e d " p on to dis c rm b ombs o n dis obl o d c ircr e ft.
· To king c or e of the h••mn n r e mc ins of men who or e b o ttl e
c v s,, c ltios is the t o sk of the Gr vv e s Registr a ti o n S e cti on
c ssignod t o en ch medic v l b r tt o li o n. Men working in thes e
s e cti ons d o s o on D strictly v o l"nt ee r b v sis.
Help ing k eep mo r n l e hi gh e r e t he mobil e 1 0,•ndry , b nk e r y
nnd ice crenm "nits ope rrit e d by FLC.
'l'h e se "nits Dr e oble
t o go int o the fi e ld t o s e rve tr o np s.
Tho Dc t v Pro c e ssing Pl o t oo n p r ovi de s inve nt o r y c ontr r.1 1
s 1 ' pport f or the b a sic s"pp l y missi<"' n o nd f or p e rs onne l n cc n,,nting c: nd ns si g ns Mnr in e s in c cc 0 rd 2 nc e with the ir s kills
e nd c.b i lity. The pl n t oo n op er r t e s the o·nly "IBrl 360 11 c r:imp ••tor
in Vi e tnl'm •
...
Ov or o mi lli --:i n gv ll o ns of f" o l per d oy vr e p"mpo d t o
M8 1· i.n e- ··· n i t s- thr o"ehn'·t I C,-') r p s by FLC I s 7th Sep or C: t o B"lk
F-· e l Co .
This spcc i o liz e d "nit i-w s d e s i g ne d r- nd d eve l op e d
t o s e rve b"lk f•.' e l r o q" i r ome nts which we r o n ,, r mr.: J.ly 11 mfl nh o n d l od " ov e r r o od s vn.d be a che s, mr ki ng- d e livcry r ~ q"ir e me nts 0.xtr ome l y di f fic"l t.
The 11 h c"SO-h"mp ors 11 , Ds t h ey or o
c e ll e d "tilize mod e rn f ,,e 1 h c ndlinp: e q"i pme nt t 0 e ffici e ntly
se rvic e e ll f" e l r e q"ir emonts.
· Ano th e r sp c ci 8 liz 0 d o r p;oniz c t i o n in tho c omnwnd iis on
£•rnm"nit i n n c 0mp c ny , which c rm t r o ls l'mm"niti o n "s ed b y Mn rine s in Vi o tnom . ·
Se v e nth Mo t o r Tr l' nsp ort Bo tt o li <:; n, h Ds c omp r ni c s l o c v t o d
~t Comp B00 1:s e nd v t Ph" Bo i.
Th e b r tt e li o n h 1J s r:r eo tl y
in?r eo s e d tFrn _tr o nsp o rt o ti n.9- f o cili ti e s f ·'.J r s " p p l yi n g l1fa rine
"nits b y tr,,ck c onvoy s. Sevor Dl time s ea ch mo nth, th e b 0 tt 0 li o n mc k e s " P p r rt o f l nr ge c o nv oy s go ing t o s"ch pl a c e s
i:: s Do n g Ho D nd H• e .
1
FLC Story 3-3-3-3-3
- Thr 6e Combin e d Acti n n Pl r t on ns, Q-4, Q-5 e nd Q-6 a r e
sit,,oted n e or FLC's Comp Bo :J ks h oc.d q,, c. rtors, within r. 25mirr'te drive fr 0m Do No n g .
In th e · r eo lm of Civi · Acti o n, the F o rce Lop: istic Comme nd
hasac o ntin"ing pr ~) grtm f 0r b"ild ing sch o o ls, r o l ci c c ting h rm luts vnd pr o viding b"ilding moterinls f or l oc ri l '.)rp hE1 n Dgos
£'t Cvmp Boo ks, Ph,, Br i rmd Ch•' Loi.
One of th o c orrrrno nd's bi g~e st civic c cti n n pr o jects is
th e Children's Ho s p i tol l o cct o d o n the C-v rnp Boo ks c omp o• ncL
Thr n,,gh c ombine d eff 0rts o f the Mflrines 8f F o rce Log istic
Go rnmc nd, h.:)Spi t e l c o rpsme n E> nd Sec bees th0 Children I s Hospi tol h 2 s giv (;; n me dic o l c 2re t ;") - tho•,s e nds o f Vi c tnr mese
children.
The h o s p i tol Is now b"ilding will tripl e pr e s e nt
f o ciliti e s.
1
Desi g n e d t ci servo a p np"lrt h m o f 30,000 people within
rodi"s of tw n n r three miles of C[' mp Boo ks, the h o spit o l
s ome time s tr o Dts chil d ren fr om o s f or c way Es Do ng Ho , ne or
tho DMZ.
8
ThG Me dic r,l
Civic Acti n n ° r ogr om ( HedC r,p ) is b e c oming
m0 r e ext e nsiv e in the o r ec end 8 Cts os o scr ce nin~ og e ncy
f ~r the hosp ital, a s wo ll c s tr o o ting p c ti o nts of e ll age s
in the vill rgc s.
-30-
3
1st MARINE AIRCRAFT WING
PRE.5S KIT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
~
1-2
Title
Biography and photograph
Commanding Gaieral
'
3-4
BiograJhy and Photogra!il
5-6
Brief History of the 1st MAW
7JJ
1st MAW :in Vietnam
10-12
List of Operations in Vietnam
participated in by 1st MAW
13
Map of I Corps
14
Commanding· Generals
:ENCLOSURE ( 1)
Aircraft of the 1st MAW
Assist.ant Wing Commander
MAJ,'.~\R GENERAL NORMAN J. ANDERSON, USMC
Cemmanding General, 1st Marine Aireraft Wing
Majer General Nerman Jae,,• Anderson was bern February
7, 1913 at
Manitowee, Wis., and compl.et~d high schtel at Glendale, Calif.
He
graduated frem the University of Califorejia at Los Angeles in 1934 with
an AB deg~~e and completed a year ef postgraduate study at Stanford
University in 1935, prior to enlisting in the Marine Corps Reserve.
Appointed in aviatio~ cadet, he c~mpleted flight training at Pensacola,
Fla., in 1937 and was eommisaionea a Marine Reserve second lieut~nant.
When war erui,ted, he was serving as Aide to the Comma.ndi~ General, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Overseas, he took part in c,mbat with
MAG-25 in the S,lemons. lat~r, he flew more than 10C b"~ing missions
as command~ ef VMB-423 in the Bismarck and Philippines areas, earning
three Distinguj.she, Flying Cresses and seven Air Medals.
Fellewi.ng the war, he ctmmanded an aircraft engineering s~uadr•n at
El Tore; eempleted the Junier Ceurse at Quantic• in 1947J and headea the
Air Seetien, Amphibious Warfare School.
"
Upen the eutset of h•stilities in Kerea, he was ordered to the
Western Pa.cifi~ as Deputy-Commander, MAG-33. Based aboar~ the USS BADOENG
STRAIT, he flew 57 missi•ns a~d earned the Silver Star Meaal fer gallantry
in aerial cembat in t .~e Pusan Perimeter fighting. He als• earaei. a feurth
Distinguished Flying Cross aa~ his eighth through tenth Air Medals.
He was next assigned to the Pacific Fleet Evaluation Group; completed
the National War Cellege in 1,53; and headed the Air Sectien, Tactics and
Techniques :S,ard, Develepnent Center, at Quantic• (195.3-56), and the
Pelicy Analysis Di½.sien, HQMC (1956-59). In the fall •f 195,, he c•rnpleted jet transitienal training then reported t~ the 1st MJ:,W in Japan as
Cemrnanding Officer, MAG-11, eperating frem airfields and aircraft carriers throughout the Western Pacific.
During 1961, he served at the National War C~llege and as a member
•fa boara convened to examine the organization •f Headquarters Marine
Corps. Promoted te brigadier general in November 1961, he served censecutively at HQMC as Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff (G-3), Assistant te
the Deputy Chief of Staff (Plans) for Joint Matters, and Deputy Chief of
Staff (Air).
General Anders,n •ecame Assistant Wing Commander, 2d MAW, i~
November 1963. The' t•llewing March, he assumed duties as C•mmanding
General, Marine Corps Air Bases, F.a.stern Area, and Marine Corps Air
Station, Cherry Point, N.c., and served in that capacity until assuming
cornmar,;d of, the 2d MAW in Ma.y 1966. He was promoted t• majer general in
January 196,. He assumed hiB present cemrnand during June 1967.
The General and his wife, the former Irene Ferna.rule~ of Nerthfield,
Vt., have two children, Nerma!, and Kirk.
USMC
(Revisep. June 1967 1st MAW)
I
I
;
BRI GADIER GENEH.:\L ROBER!' P. KELJ..ER.
USMC
Assistant Wing Commander, 1st t'.iarine Aircraft Wing
Robert Prescott Keller, a Nava.l Aviator, and holder of the Silver Star Meda l and
three Distinguished Flying Crosses was born in Oakland, California, on Februa ry 9, 1920.
He gra duated from Castlemont High School and attend'e d the University of California at
Berkeley. As a result of civilian schooling in later years, he received a Bachelor of
Science degree from the University of :Ma ryland, and a Master of Arts degree from
George Washington University.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1940, and was ordered to active duty for
fli ght training. He was cornmi:5sioned a second lieutenant and received his wings i n
. Jl'.il y 1941.
Lieutenant Ke ller served as an instructor at Pensacola, Florida, progressing to the
rank of captain. I n 1943, he joined Ha rine Fighter Squadron 212 and deployBd to :Midway
Island in the Pacific. He was promoted to maj or and transferred to Marine Fighter
Squadron 223, serving as Executive Officer and later Commanding Officer. He destroye d
one enemy aircraft and damaged two others, in aerial combat.
Returning to the United states in 1944, he completed night-fighter training and
deployed to Okinawa in 1945 as Commanding Officer of Marine Night Fighter Squadron 533.
When the war ended, Major Keller and his squadron flew to Peiping, China, to assist in
the repatriation of Japanese forces. In January 1947 he attended the Amphibious Warfare
School. After graduation he reported to Pensacola, Florida, for assignment{:1s \Viation
Safety Officer. He attended the Air Command and Staff College at the Air University in
Montgomery, Alabana in 1948. Upon completion of the course in 1949, he was ordered to
El Tore ll California, as Executive Officer and later Corrmanding Officer, of :Marine Fight·er·
Squadron 214.
He deployed with the initial Marine Corps Forces to reach Korea in 1950. Early in
1951, he became Tactical Air Support and Helicopter Operations Officer, Tactics and
Techniques Board, Marine Corps Development Center, ~iuantico, Virginia. He was promoted
to ol ieutenant colonel in ·January, 1951. Transferred to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
in J une 1952, he then was oroered to Headquarters Marine Corps. In Jarruary, 1956,
Lieutenant Colonel Keller became a student at the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk,
Virginia. That summer , he 1.-ms assigned to the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Allied
Forces, Southern Ellrope in r;aples, I t a ly.
Upon his return to the United States in August 1958, he underwent helicopter
training and in November of that year became Executive Officer of Marine Aircraft GrouP16 in Japan. Promoted to Colonel in October 1959, he served thereafter until February
1960 , as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing at Iwakuni.
Returning to the United States, Colonel Keller reported ·to the Armed Forces College,
as a member of the faculty from March 1960 to June 1963, Ordered to El Toro, California,
he became Assistant Chief of Staff, G-5 (Plans), Aircraft, Fleet Marine Force, Pac_ific,
In June 1964, Colonel Keller was assigned to the 3rd Narine Aircraft Wing. He became
Commanding Officer, Marine Aircraft Group-15 in July 1964. In June 1965 he received
or ders to Headquarters Marine Corps, as Head, Joint and Special Plans Team, Joint
P,l ann.ing Group . In March 1966, he was assigned to duty as Assistant Director of the
Joi nt Pl8.nning Group. He was p romoted to brigadier ge neral in Au gust 1966, a nd assigned
as Deputy Ass ista nt Chief of S!,~ff, G-3 until reassigned iti;· April as AWC, i ~s~:V.Li\W,
The general a nd his wife, the former Lucille Norris of P.ensacola, Florida, have two
sons; Robert P. Jr. , and Ronald R. and two daughters; Anne ·Elaine and Joan Elizabeth.
~
~RIEF HISTORY OF THE
l~~
The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
Virginia, on July 7, 1941. Under
E. Woods, it initially consisted
Marine Aircraft Group - 1, which
Aircraft Group-11.
MARI~ AIRCRAFT WING
was commissioned at Quantico,
the comrrand of LtCol. Louis
of a Headquarters Squadron and
was shortly redesignated Marine
Twenty-four hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the First
Wing_, now consisting of six squadrons, was ordered to the West
Coast. Its mission, similar to that of Arnzy- and Navy aviation units
was the defense of the coast. By ¥arch 1942 the Wing had expanded
to five Air Groups. Of these new groups, Marine Aircraft Group13 was the only one to be ordered overseas; this group provided
air defease of Samoa.
On August 20, 1942, ~larine Aircraft Group-23, which had joined
the Wing from the 2nd !Vi. .arine Aircraft Wing, landed at flenderson
Field on Guadalcanal to supp:>rt t he First ¥.iarine Di vision in the
first of fensive action in the war. BGen. Roys. Gei ger, Wing
Commander, shortly t hereafter assumed command of all aviation units
in t he Guadalcanal area.
In December 1942, the First Wing was relieved at Guadalcanal
but continued to support the Second Wing logistically and to dispa.tch
units to the New Caledonia-New Hebrides area.
By March of 1943 all units of the First Wing had ceased
operating in the Guadalcanal area and began to work through New
Georgia, New Guinea, and other islands . Marine landings at Pelileu
were supported by the First Wing, and the battle for the Philippines
again saw them in action.
The Marine technique of close air support flying -was demonstrated
in 1945 when the First Wing aided the l..rnzy- in round-the-clock
support of the Philippines •
.After WW II ended, the First Wing was ordered to North China
to assi s t the First Marine Division in the occuf8.tion of the area,
and to protect American inter e sts in the civil strife rampant
in this section.
In 1946 and 1947, units of the First Wing were returned to
the United States or disbanded, and the Wing was returned to the
United States Yiarine Corps Air Station, El Toro, Calif.
-more-
I
!
J
/
BRIEF HISTORY
2-2-2
The Fir st Wing was back in conbat in the Korean conflict. Marine
Aircraft Grou~33 operated in the Pusan perimeta- and after the Inchon
landing., all Wing units were comnitted to full scale operations in
sup!X)rt of United Nations forces.
It was during this war that the 1st Harine Aircraft Wing pioneered
the use of the helicopter for tactical lift in combat.
In July 1956 the First Wing moved to Iwakuni: Atsug:i and Oppama.,
Japan. Wing units took part in the defense of Taiwan and numerous
large .?Jld smc:ill scale training maneuvers -in the Far Ea.st before
being assigned to VietnBID.
-usmc-
THE 1ST MARINE AIRCRAFI' WIID IN VIEl'NAM
Increm9nts of Marine Helicopter Squadroi.-362., comn:anded by
Lt Col. Archie J. CL~f, were the first unit fo the 1st Marine
Aircraft Wing to serve in Vietna.m.
Beginning Apr. 15, 196.2 the cperation, dubbed 11 Shu.Fly",
continued without interruntion until March 1965 when the 9th
Marine Amphibious Brigade· l ann.ed at Da Nang. 11 Shu.f 4'-i1 was
headquartered initially at Soc Trang and later IE. Nang. The
operatiai provided helicop·::, e .r support for VietmJ]).;!se units and
conducted training progral!l.s :_' -::: V:i.etna.mese aviators who wore t~
operate the UH-34's provided ,1...:, '.:. he Vietmmese Air Force.
Prior to tpril of 1 %5 _. the only fixed wing Marine aircraf't
in Vietnam were several 0.-.,l B light observat-ion aircraft perfcr ming
visual and photographic observat ion missions- and transient KG-130 1 s
which provided logistical fli ghts in support of 11 Slufly 11 •
In April 1965, the fir st Marine Corps F-4B -11Ph9.ntom11 jets
were added to the aviation inventory in Vietna.m. ('.lhe Marine Corps
uses the F-4B both as a fighter and as an attack aircraft.) In
Ms.y, addition3,l F-4B 1 s were stationed at Da Nang. On ?-by ll, 1965.,
~jGen. Paul J. FONTANA, arrived in Vietnam, and establlshed
·
Headquarters (Advanced) for the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing at IE. Nlng.
On June l, the A-4 11 Skymwk 11 , buhrark of M:l.rine cloee air
support was introduced. They were assigned to Chu Lai, where they
began operations just three weeks after c.onst:ruction was started
on an expeditionary airfield,. This field wa.s built on a spot whiak
was previoo.sly deserted wastelando The first night launch of A-4
aircraft from this field was flown by Marine Aircraft Group-12 on
July 5.
The first. Marine Corps night helicop:.er assault in the
Rep.1blic or Vietna.m was rrase by Marine Aircraft Groo.p-36 on August
12. On September 1, construction began on the Ky lb airfield at
Chu Lai for Marine Aircraft Groo.1r36.
Another first, tactical use of an airborne M3.rine Corps·
Dwect Air Support Center (DASC) was realized September 7-10, wti3n
a VMGR-152 KC-]30F equipi:ed with special coJruill.retions package
oi:era.ted aver the battle field for 9 hours on the first day of
OPERATION PIRANIL\.
-more-
1st l&tW in Vietnam
add 2-2-2
The F-8E 11 Crusader" deployed to Vietnam when VMF( AW)-312
joined 1-fJi.G-11 at Da Nc.ng on December 19. The announced J')-hour
Christmas cease fire on December 24-25 commenced as scheduled and
was later extended on the 25th at the direction of higher aut:·1 0rity.
1st M_~rine Aircraft Wing offensive air operations resumed at 1215
December 26, when a flight of W.tA-211 A-4E 1 s were diverted from a
helicopter escort mission to strike a Viet Cong tr0nchline complex.
By
the end of 1965:
Marine ¥iedium Helicopter Squadrons were averaging about
20,000 sorties per month in supp::>rt of military operations
in the III MAF area, and hauling an average of 40,000
passengers and 2,200 tons of cargo. Marine Observation Squa.drons were averaging about 2,000
missions per month.
Tactical and fixed wing squadrons of F-4B 1 s, F-8 1s and
A-4 were averaging approximately 2,500 combat sorties per
month, and delivering from 1,600 to 2,000 tons of ordnance
in their air support role.
1s
Total sorties flown, ordnance delivered and troops and cargo
heli-lifted during the months of the rainy season in the III Y~ F
area did not differ significantly from the average figures for
all months.
During the first six months of 1966, the 1st Marine Aircraft
Wing supplied close air supp::>rt for more than 25 combat operations
while at the same time exp,mding the civil affairs program
throughout the I Corps h.rea. ·· Elements of :Marine Wing Supp::>rt
Group-17 entered Vietnam, ~.iay 31, 1966.
In July, the 1st Wing surpassed every record set for close
air support of a combat operation, when Operation Hastings began
July 15.
On the first day of the operation, }U~G-16 deployed 2,200
¥.iarines and 1,400 soldiers of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam
within the zone. In all, 9,864 helicopter sorties were flown
1,.301 jet aircraft sorties were flown, with 479 ordnance strikes
carryi ng 672 tons of bombs. In addition, Marine transport aircraft
brought in I?r'.llions of pounds of men, munitions and supplies.
-more-
1ST MAW IN VIE'IN Ni
3-3-3
On August 10, a second .runway was completed at Da Hang, to handle
the increase of air traffic.
On September 24, Marine Aircraft Group...13 elements arrived in
Vietnam., and in Octo'6er 1966 opened a new airfield a:t Chu Lai, w:i th
a 1 O., 000 foot runway.
November 1., saw the first A6A "Intruder"> newest fixed wing
aircraft in the Marine Air arsenal join Mra-ine' Aircraft Group,-11
at Da Nclilg.
By the end of 1966:
Fi~ter., Att ack and Bomber aircraft of the 1st l:Iarine
A:ircraft Wing flew a total of more than 61,000 sorties.
1st Marine Aircraft Wing helicopters lifted over 500., 000
pa ssengers and 32,000 tons of cargo, flying more than 400,000 sorties.
Transp:>rt aircraft ferried mor e thclU 245,000 passengers
and more than 39,000 tons of cargo.
In addition, the 1st Harine Aircraft Wing provided air support
for Task 1'orce 77 and the 7th Air Force. Marines flew nnre than
1,000 sorties for the Task Force and over 18., 000 for the Air Force.
In January 1967., the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing added t he · free
-world's largest and fastest production helicopter, the CH53A, to
it's inventory.
Elenents 6:f the 1st Harine· Aircraft Wing are now operating from
Chu Lai, Ky Ha , Marble Mountain, . Phu Bai and Dong Ha , with Wing
Headquarters a t Da NMg.
•
-usmc-
SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONS OF THE 1ST MARINE, AIRCRAFT WING IN THE REPUBLIC
CF VlETNAM FRGi AUGUST 1,965 TO JUL.I 1967
~~
INCLUSI.VE DATES
CODE
-
STlUlL.IGHT
1i8-24 Aug 65
7-to Sep 65
3-5 Nov 65
10-112. Nov 65
28 Nov-1: Dec 66
9-21 Dec 65
5-8 Jan 66
28 J an-1 Mar 66
4-8 Mar 66
20-25, Mar 66
~23 Mar 66
28-30 Mar 66
1-11i Apr 66
8-9 ,Apr 66
l2-17 Apr 66
21,-23 Apr 66
27 Apr-10 Ma_y 66
21, Apr-1,0 May 66
5-7 May 66
10-1.2 May 66
9-14. May 66
1:5 May-25 Jun 66
16-17 May 66
20-22 Mey 66
2s-2a May 66
1-9 Jun 66
6-1.2 Jun 66
7-23 Jun 66
9-12 Jun 66
15-28 Jun 66
29 Jun-1. Jul 66
2.5 Jun-2. Jul 66
1,--6 Jul 66
4 Jul.-28 Oct 66,
6 Jul-14 Jul 66
1:5, Jul-3 Ja.ug 66
2.6-29 Jul 66
2-8 Aug 66
; aug 66-31 Jan 67
orTCMA
PilUNHA.
BLACK FE8RET
BLUE MARLIN
D,AGGER THRUST
!WiVESi:£ MOON
LONG LANCE.
DOUBLE EAGLE
UTAH
TEXAS
OREGON
INDIANA
ORANGE
IOWA
NEVA.DA
HOT SPRINGS
VIRGINIA.
GEORGIA.
CHER.<EEE
WAYNE
MONTGQ'1ERY
ATHENS
YUMA
MORGAN
MOBI~
BEAVER
,APACHE
DODGE
FLOR.IDA
IUNs.AS
OAKLAND
JAY
HOLT
MAC,ON
W.ABHINGTON
Hl~TINGS
FRANKLIN
BUCKS
PRA.IRIE
COLORADO
WILCOX
SWANEE
ALLEGHENY
PAWNEE
6-2.2.Aug 66
11-12 Aug 66
1,4-21, Aug 66
a)...2.9 Aug 66.
2.6 Au8-6 Sap 66
NAME
INCLUSIVE DATES
2¢-2.2 JJJg 66
27-29 iall8 66
2-4 Sep 66
5-14 Sep, 66
8-t6 Se12 66
24-25, Sep 66
PAWNEE II
8-14 Sep 66
CdNON
7-12 Sep 66
MONTF.ru..""'Y
29-3fJ Sep 66
KENT
1~15 Oct Ei6
1,2-2D Oot 66
TETON
DOVER
1,9-23 Oct 66
(Reaume.d 26-30 Oct 66)
BAC ON
1,9-28 Oct 66
MADISON
21.-23, Oct 66
KERN
21,-25 Oct 66
PAWl{Effi III
29 Oct-24 Deo 66
SHA:'31'A
5-1,9 Nov 66
ARC.illlA
9-14 Nov 66
MISSISSIPPI
29 Nov-7 Dec 66
t-6 Dec 66
SU'I'TER
TRINIDAD II
8 Dec-11 Dae 66
t7-21, Deo 66
GLENN
t1-1.6 Dec 66
STERLING
20-21 Dec 66
SHASTA I I
CHINOOK
19 Deo-1.6 Feb 67
LINCOLN
5-9 Jan 67
SIENE
5-14 Jan 67
CLEVELAND
24-25 Jan 67
24-28 Jan 67
TUSCALOOSA.
26 Jan-7 Apr 67
DE soro
30 J an-1, Feb 67
TRINITY/SHARK
1 Fab-9 Feb 67
SEARCY
1-3 Feb 6 7
CLAY
INfill>ENDENCE
t Feb-9 Feb 67
PRillUE II
t Feb-1.8 Mar 67
2. Feb-22 Feb 67
STONE
1!7 Feb-4 Apr 67
ClllNOOK ll
1,7 Feb-22 Feb 67
RIO GRANDE
GI.ANT DRAGON
17 Feb-2.2. Feb 67
PULASKI
24-27 Feb 67
LAN(l(E
26-28 Feb 67
26 Feb-7 Mar 67
LAFAYETTE
GULF
4-7 Mar 67
JACKiON
TROY
NAPA
FRESNO
COFFEE
'·
(
CODE~
INCLUSIVE DATES
CODE NAME
INCLUSIVE DATES
YUBA.
TIPPECANOE
P.RA.IRIE III
NEltl CASTLE
BEAGCN HILL
EARLY
PERRY
10-12 Mar 67
13-1.8 Mar 67
19 Mar-t9, Apr 67
22-2.5 Mar 67
2.0 Mar-1 Apr 67
24--25 Mar 67
25-27 Mar 67
1, Apr-7 .a.pr 67
5,-21. Apr 67
6-1,0 Apr 67
7-1;0 Apr 67
1.-7 A.pr 67
t3-t7 Apr 67
1,7-1,9 Apr 67
1,8-2_0 Apr 67
21,..26 Apr 67
2.2 ~r-21 Mey 67
2t ..Apr-17 May 67
23 Apr-1,2 Mey 67
5-t1 Mey 67
11, Mey-8 June 67
1;3 May-16 Jul 67
16-18 Mey 67
18-26 May 67
17-28 Mey 67
17-27 May 67
19-25 Mey 67
20-25 Mey 67
22 Mey-9 Jul f..: .,
26 May-5 Jun 67
1 Jun-2 Jul 67
3 Jun-17 Jul 67
7-11 Jun 67
5-7 JU."l 67
8 Jun•
2-5 Jun 67
BUTLER
MIZUNA
.tillAIR
B.ttOWN
B.ElaCuN TORCH
CALHOUN
MiiliYLii.ND
BUTLER
ELLivT
BEhVER TH.AP'
Billlill CIAW
1()-12 Jun 67
14-22 Jun 67
15-24 Jun 67
18-22 Jun 67
18 Jun-1 Jul 67
25 Jun-1 Jul 67
25-28 Jun 67
10-12 Jun 67
5-6 Jul 67
4-18 Jul 67
3-19 Jul 67
6-12 Jul 67
2.;.1 4 Jul 67
10 Jul12-15 Jul 67
14-16 Jul 67
16 Jul 67
17 Jul 67
20-26 Jul 67
20-27 Jul 67
21 Jul 67
27-29 Jun 67
BOONE
BIG HO.tlli
CANYON
DIXIE
SEA. IlBAGON
HUMBO.Ilr
LAWRENCE
YE.LL
GRAND
SHAWNEE,
UNION
BEACON STAR
Hi'IPPY DRAGON
MALHEUR
CROCKETT
WE.BSTER
BJ~.1..U CH.1:1.H.GER
HICKORY
'l 'HUNDER D&GuON
DUVAL
Bii;L'r T:.t:1cr.HT
CHOCT.;;W
UNiuN II
C111:Uuili. ON
GUl"illE.tt.Lb.N])
CuLG.aTE
ANGliY DH.b.GOON
MJiLHEtf£t
BBAR BITE
~
BUFF11.LO
Y.fuillVlONT
GEM
HICKORY II
KINGFISHER
AfilMJiIB
BEAR CHAIN
PECOS
BEACON GUIDE
~TOCKTuN
1ST MARINE .AIRCRAFT WING SUPPORT OF Ol'HER UNIT OPERATIONS
rn_N.a.ME.
INCLUSIVE DATE§
m!
BOLF.ST.AR
22 Aug-25 Sep 66
29 Aug-25 Oot 66
9-27 Nov 66
t-7 Deo 66
17 Feb-22 Feb 67
1-7 Apr 67
5-1.1 MB3 67
17-2.7 MB3 67
5-7 Jun 67
7-1.4 Jun 67
3-11 July 67
15-17 July 67
18-26 Jul 67
ROKMC
ROKMC
ROKMC
LEE,
DRAGON EYE
l1b.WN
GIANT DRAGON
SEA DRAGON
HAPPY DRAGON
THUNDER. DRAGCJI
ANGRY DRAGON
ANGRY DRAGON II
DRAGON HE.[J)
DRAGON HEAD II
DRAGON HEAD Ill
ROKMC
ROKMC
ROKMC
ROKMC
ROKMC
ROKMC
ROKMC
ROKMC
ROKMC
R()IQ,£
THE 1,ST Miill.INE. A:rn.Cru.FT WING SUP.PURTE.D JU'1PHIBIOUS OPERATIONS FOR
DECKHOUSE 1 , 2-,
3, 4
and
6
MAP
~UJNG NAM (PROV)
- ........... '
'7
'
CORPS
../
/
'
GF I
\
,
,,,.i
..
,·
\
'·
,
'{
'
,i
-,
QUANG TIN
)
f
•.
'
._""'
I.-{
,,,.~I
{
QUANG NGA.I (PROV)
(
(
C001ANDING GENERALS OF THE FIRST Ml:.RINE AIRCRAFT WING
Lieutenant Colonel L. E. WOODS
Brigadier General R. S. GEIGER
Major General.. R. J. MITCHELL
Brigadier General J. T. MOORE
Major General. R. J. MITCHELL
7Jul41-20.Aug41,
2.1,Aug41-20.Apr43
21.~43-}tJ an44
1Feb44f,-1.4,Jun44
15Jul44-4Jun45
Major General L. E. WOODS
Colonel H. C. MAJOR
Brigadier General. L. G. MERRI.TT
Maj or Gener~ a. .A. LARKIN
Major General L. E. WOODS
5Jun45-5Jun45
6Jun45-9Jun45
1.p.Tun45-9Aug45
Brigadier General L. H. M. SAN'DEHSON
Brigadier Gener.al W• L. MCKIT.rRlCK
Major General L. E. WOODS
Brigadier General T. F. CUSHMAJ."f
Major General F. HbRRIS
24Jun46-15JuJ.47
10ct47-31Jul49
1Aug49-1,9Aug49
20.Aug49-28Mey51
Br·i gadie.r General R. F. CUSHMAN
Brigadier General C. F. SCHILT
Brigadier General c. C. JEHCME
Major General v. E. ME.GEE
Major· General A.. D. COOLEY
29Ma.y51,..27 Jul51
28Jul51-11Apr52
12Apr52-8Jan5 3
9J an5 3-4Deo5 3
5Dec53-25Mar54
Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier
F. 0 1 NEI.IL
25Aug54-24Sep55
25Sep55-30Jun56
1Ju.l56-3enec56
F. BINNEY
31iDec56-15Doo57
Gene;ral V.
General M.
Generals.
General D.
General A.
Major
Major
Maj or
Major
Maj or
GeneraJ.
General
General
General.
GenenaJ.
C.
G.
R.
A.
J.
H.
A.
C.
R.
P.
Major
Major
Major
Major
Major
General F. E.
General F. c.
General J. F.
General K. B.
General. L.B.
J. MCCAUL
L. DltWSON
s. JACK
HAYES
ROBERTS
J.vUNGRUM
KIER
CONDON
J:.iEEK
'l'&.rlIN
FONTlillA
MCCUTCHEON
ROBERTSHAW
Maj or General N. J. ANDERSON
1,PAug45-tNov45
2Nov45-24Jun46
t6Jul47-30Sep47
26Mar54-24Aug54
t6Deo57-2A.pr59
3Apr59-11Nov59
2Nov59-20A.pr60
2 tA.pr60-}Jun61
4.Jun61-12Jun62
t3,Jun62-29Jun63
3!,)Jun63-26Jun64
27Jun64-5Jun65
6Jun65-1.5Mey66
16MB\Y'66-31Ma_y67
1Jun67-
III MARIN~ AMPHIBI OUS FORCE
The Mission - And How It Is Fulfilled
The III Marine Amphibious Force mission in I Corps is to
assist the South Vietnamese to defeat the enemy try ing to seize
their country and to help them build their nation.
requires:
This
(1) The defense of the highly strategic airfields at
Da Nang, Chu Lai and Phu Bai; (2) The destruction of the NVA
and main force VC in I Corps; (3) The conduct of a vigorous
civil operations and revoluti o n a r y development support (CORDS)
offensive; and (4) The destruction of the guerrilla
infrastructure of the Viet Cong.
Some 75,00_0 Marines Rnd 21,000 Army troops are operating
from combat bases in I Corps in accomp lishing this mis s ion.
The III Marine Amphibious ~o rce has five major commands:
1st
Mar ine Di vi s i on , Jd Ma rine Division, th e Americal Division
( U. S . ~rmy), 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and Force Logistics
Command.
Major operating areas have been established at Da Nang,
Chu Lai, Phu Bai, Dong Ha and Due Pho.
These areas comprise
some 2,054 square miles.
The second part of the mission, destruction of the enemy,
has been nursue d during the first two years ashor e b y means of
more than 200 major operations of battali on size or lar~er since
March 1965.
Interest of lat e has been centered on heavy fi~hting in the
-
DMZ are a , the coastal plain s a nd in o p er~ting areas s o uth of
Da Nang, . where heavy casualties have been inflicted on
2
,0
North Vietnamese forces by Marines, Army, ROKMC and ARVN
forces in a series of hard fought acti ons against an enemy backed
by artillery, mortars, rockets and field fortifications.
In addition, offensive action against guerrillas is being
pressed by 'round the clock small unit oper~tions.
From June
1965 through Aug. 1967, for example, III MAF units have conducted
more than 304., 000 small unit operations of company size or
smaller.
These operations have been conducted at a rate of
over 1200 in each 24-hour period since the first of 1967.
The
strangle hold on the village is maintained by the gue·rrilla
and this offensive will directly support our CORDS offensive.
As the destruction of the enemy takes place, and as the
villages and hamlets become secure and cleared of guerrillas, the
CORDS offensive pushes forward to rebuild the economy and the
social a~d political life of the people.
Marines have learned that in order to win this war they
must not only liberate the people but mu·st also win their hearts
and trust.
They are doing this through untold thousands of acts
of individual kindness and through a massive, well organized civic
• affairs program that reaches into every village and hamlet in
their areas of operations.
It has been said in the past that every Marine--regardless
of his job--is a rifleman.
An<l so it can be said in Vietnam
that every Marine regardless of his job is also a practitioner
of civil affairs--an ambassador of goodwill and in this he is
3
0
joined b y the soldiers of III MAF .
III MAF is being assisted in its ov ~rall mission by some
21,000 U. S . Army pers onnel, more than 1 8 , 0JO l~avy personnel of
th e Naval Supp o rt Ac t i vity, Da Nang , th e Naval Advisory Group
and t h e J ) t h Na va l Constructi on Re g iment and Navy personnel
attache d to III MA~, nearly 7,000 members o f the Air Force's
366th Tactical F' i ght e r Win g , a number of ' Army Sp eci a l Forces
and a dvi s ors, a nd the 2d Korean Marine Bri gade.
Dir e ctin ~ this hu g e military/ CORD offens iv e is Lieutenant
General Robert E. Cu s h man, Jr.,
USMC
wh o became Commanding
Gen e ral o f th e III Marine Amphib L:m s "'o rce on .June 1, l ·-1 67.
General Cushman is a l so Senior Ad vis or to the I Corps ( F irst Corps)
Vi e t n ame s e Comr'.and er, Lieutenant Gener a l Huon g Xuan Lam.
I Corp s - The Land And The People
I Corps, the northernmo st of t h e f o u r· corp s are a s in the
Republic o f Vietnam, con s i s ts o f five provinces which cov e r
some 10, 0 J O square miles.
is populated, with nearly
o f th e a re a .
However, only abo .1t 30~{, of this area
90t of the pooulati ln livin ~ in 10%
Th e pr ov inces, f ro m n ~rth to s ou th, are Quang Tri,
Thua Tien, Quan g Nam, Quan ,r, Tin a n d Qc1 ang; N;r, ai.
Total population
of th A five p r o v inc es i ~ a p p r o x imately 3,031,107.
Th e civilia n pop ul a ti on in ~he Da Nang are a is ab out
400,000; at Chu Lai it is 112,80 0; a nd 8 t Phu Bai it is
approximately 5 3,000 .
Th e populat ion in t h ose areas
0
4
increases daily due to the influx
resettling in these areas.
Most
or refugees and others
or the population in I
Corps is located along the coastal plain which extends inland
from one to 15 miles.
Chu Lai is 55 miles to the south of Danang, while
Phu Bai is 45 miles north of Danang.
III MAF operations are conducted in close cooperation
with leaders and units of the Army of the· Rep~blic of Vietnam.
U. S. Marines and soldiers and Vietnamese soldiers literally
fight side by side in coordinated operations.
The Enemy
Whether you think of the enemy as the hamlet guerrilla
or the well-trained, indoctrinated and equipped North
soldier, he is an elusive and determined foe.
Vietna~ese
He must
endure many :h ardships and he is often ver:y dedicated.
An
expert in the arts of camouflage, deception and ambush, he is
a hardy and ruthless fighter.
The Guerrilla.
Bu~ he is not invincible.
The local hamlet, village, or district
guerrilla is poorly educated and trained.
He may be armed
with a few grenades, an old French or German rifle, or a
captured U. S . we apon.
Although he may only be a part-time
soldie~, he is an important part of the VC effort.
The local guerri lla knows the people and the terrain;
he controls the local populace and supports VC units operating
in the area, He may serve the VC as a guide or sentry;
he may maintain a local cache and prepare village fortifications, or levy food or personnel requirements on the village
for regular units; he may conduct acts of terrorism, ·harassment,
or sabotage; and he may serve as an intelligence agent.
The --~•1ain_E_orce Viet Cong.
is a full-time soldier.
The Main Force Viet Cong
He may have gained combat experience
against French, ARVN, or U.S. forces, or he m~y be a recent
recruit from the local forces.
He is usually well-trained and equipped.
He is outfitted
with his weapon, a few grenades, a pack, a set or two of
black pajamas, and other items of clothing and equipment.
He
may carry a varie ty of weapons, usually of U.S., French, German,
Russian or Chinese ori~in.
His ammunition is obtained from
local caches: his unit particioates in onerations usually only
in his own rrovince.
The Marth Vietnamese Soldier.
The FVA soldier ti.as, in
most cases, been fully indoctrinated and trained before his
lone; trek into South Vietna!n.
He has been provided a simplle,
but lightweight and well-adapted set of equioment.
He carries
a modern and effective Chicom copy of a Russian family of
we~pons (SKS carbine, AK-47 assault rifle, RPD light machine
gun, and RPG-2 rocket launcher).
The carbine, assault rifle,
and light machine gun all use a standard 7.62mm cartridge.
He has trained and infiltrated with his unit into South Vietnam.
Detachments of the NVA operate with main force VC
units or guerrillas to provide a heavy weapons base of fire,
sappers or demolition experts, and other technical military
skills.
Background, Facts, and Figures
The first Marine units to serve in Vietnam were
elements of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 362 which
arrived in country on April 15, 1962.
The squadron provided
helicopter support for Vietnamese units and conducted training
programs for Vietnamese aviators who were to operate the
UH-34 helicopters provided t o the RVN Air Force.
The first U.S. combat units to land in Vietnam were the
Marines of the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade who came
ashore at Da Nang on March 8, 1965.
Sine ~ then the principal
goal of Marines in Vietnam has been to assist the Government
of Vietnam forces to defeat the enemy, to establish security in
the coastal lowlands of the I Corps Tactical Zone, and to
help extend government control throughout the area.
Since the Marines first landed in force and occupled
ei ght square miles around the Da Nang air base, the areas of
Marine, and now Marine-Army, influence have continued to expand
to a point approxi~ating 2,054 square miles with a populati on of
m:)re than 1,282,000.
This has been brought about in large
me asure by the Marines' agg ressive determination to close with
7
him--whether the enemy is a guerrilla, a hard-core main force VC,
or a North Vietnamese soldier.
I
A look at the record gives us a measure of the effectiveness
of III MA~ combat operations against the enemy.
Since March
1965, we have bllried more than 28,455 of the enemy, and it may
be safely estimated that at least that many more have probably
been killed or died of wounds.
Enemy ranks have been further depleted by more than 2344
guerrillas and soldiers taken prisoner by the Marines, and the
Leathernecks have impaired his ability to wage war by captllring
more than 3,952 of his weapons.
To do this,
the Marines have conducted more than 304,000
patrols and lll~, 000 ambushes, and have successfully conducted
more than 200 battalion size or larger operations since the
9th MEB landed at Da Nang in March 1965.
During this period, the aviati on arm of the Marine airground team has contributed iruneasurably to the destruction of
the enemy, his installations and his supplies.
3ince March 1965,
Marine aviators have logged more than 128,000 fixed win ~ sorties
and more than 859,000 helicopter sorties in sllpport of the
Marines and other Free World forces on the ground.
Included in the Marine aviation inventory of aircraft in
Vietnam are the A-41:i'. "Skyhawk," F-4R "Phantom," F-8F:
8
"Crusader," A-6A "Intruder," KC-130 "Hercules" transport,
0-lE "Bird Dog" observation aircraft, UH-lE "Huey" light,
helicopter, CH-46 "Sea Knight" and UH-34 medium helicopters,
and the CH-53 heavy helicopter.
Before the Marines landed, Viet Cong guerrilla terrorism
permeated the daily lives of the people and , they were ~~e.r i-ng
suffering heavily.
Realizing that the keystone to success lay
among the people, the Marines instituted a vigorous civic action
program designed to help the Vietnamese people ~chieve a higher
level of health, stability and productivity through an organized,
compassionate individual and unit effort.
As Marine combat operations.
brought security to the villages and hamlets, the Marine civic action
program brought health through medical treatment, food for the
hungry, and education for the young.
Conservatively, these compassionate and humanitarian
efforts have reached well over a million Vietnamese. ,
Again, a glance at the record reveals the progress that
has . been made in the vital area of civic action during the
past two y ears.
For example, Matrines and Navy Corpsme:1 h ave p rovided
medical treatment for more than 2,232,451 Vietnamese and de n tal
treatment for 108,462:.
Through village and hamlet officials, Marines have
contributed toward a better way of life for the Vietnamese
people by distributing over 265,000 pounds of
9
clothing, anoth er 265,000 pounds of soap, Bnd more than
4,278, 725 pounds of food t ·o the Vietnamese citizens.
More import ,' 3nt in the long run, workin g hand in hand
with the ARVN forces, Marines have helped the Vietnamese
people rebuil d thei r war-t o rn country for the future.
Convinced
that education is the ke y to the future, · 105 schools with nearly
229 classro oms hav e beon constructed or rebuilt b y the Vietnamese with the Marines' help.
More than 99 other buildings, such as dispensaries and
churches, have been built since March 1965 to provi d e for the
physical and spiritual needs of the people.
Durin g t he nast year, nearly $80,000 worth of CARE
self-help kits have been distributed.
These kits are designed
to aid in the develo pment and utilizati 0n of speci s l skills
and--in ad rl iti on t o school kits--include blacksmith, woodworkin g , midwife, textile, masonry and similar kits.
Marines
have even distri bu t e d a number of sewing machines.
More tha n 130 new wells provide water, while nearly
50
new bridge s and 2100 mi les o f roads hel p the Vietnamese
get their crop s a nd g oods to market.
Since January 1, 1966
alone, more than 1,020 new dwellings have be e n constructed to
provide s h e lt e r for Vietnamese families wh nse homes have been
destroyed or who h a ve fled the Viet Cong .
The III Mari ne A.rnph itious Force r ealizes that it is
difficul t t o me as u r e uro~ress t oward l o n ~ -term goals in the
10
I,
many-faceted war that i s being fought in the Republic of
Vietna.m.
At the same time, there is ample evidence that
substantial progress has been made during the past two
y ears, and we are convinced that we are winning the war,
both against the enemy and for a new life for the Vietnamese
people.
-usmc-
(Revised Oct.
1
67)
I
I
The F8
11
Cru sader II is a sup:i rsonic., single seat, swept wing fighter jet.
.
The TF9J
II
Cougar" is a single jet engine, two seat ( tandem type) aircraft
utilized as a tactical airborne coordinator.
The EA-6A is an electronic countermeasure-equipped version of the all
weather attack bomber, the A6A
11
Intruder. 11
The F4B
11
Phantom" is a tandem type two seat supersonic fighter attack
plane equipped with twin jet engines.
The CH-46
11
Sea Knight" is a turbine powered, twin rotored helicopter
designed to carry cargo and personnel.
The CH53A
11
Sea Stallion" i s a twin turbine, heavy transport hel i capter.
The UHlE 11 Huey" is -:i jet turbine helicoptGr, designed
for utility use. 1~ Gunship version supplies close qir
support.
The UB34D is a sin gl e ongin e helicopter d0signed for
transportation of CJrgc and personnel including
aerooedic 3l ev~cuations.
The OlC is a single-engine, two...seat light observation plane.
The KC-130F uHercules 11 is n four engine, long-range
3ircraft designed to provide inflight r efueling or
transportation of personnel or cargo.
The C-117 is a twin-engine, ncdiuo range aircr3ft,
designed for uso as a diversified c3rgo, personnel
or anbulance tr~nsport.
The US-2B is a twin engine, propeller-d.riven passenger and ca rgo aircraft,
performing a utility role within the 1st Marine Aircran. Wing ,,
The RF4B
11
Phantorn 11 is a photographic/reconnaissance version of the versati::i_~,
F4B supersonic fighter attack jet.
The EFlOB "Skynight" is a two-plqce twin-jet aircraft
utilizing ele ctronics to provide intelligenc e and
counter□ easu-res.
-----·tz
The A4
11
Skyh:Lwk 11 is a single engine, single seat attack jet exceptions.lly
well 5'Uited for its close air supPOZ't role.,
The A6A
11
Intruder 11 is a two seat jet-powered high altitude attack
bomber., capable of carrying heavy loads of conve ntional ordnance.
